Does the construct of Internet addiction reflect a single entity or a spectrum of disorders
Year: 2017
Type: article
Abstract: Objective: This article aimed to examine the issue of whether the construct of Internet addiction represents a single entity or a spectrum of disorders.Method: A literature review was performed and a conceptual synthesis was proposed.Results: Most research supports the notion that Internet addiction is a spectrum of Internet-related disorders, which pertain to addictive online behaviours, such as gaming and sexual activities.Although there are certain similarities between these behaviours, they are often associated with different socio-demographic and psychological variables (e.g., motivations and psychopathological symptoms), suggesting entities that are related, but still distinct.As constructs, addictive online activities are generally less heterogeneous than addictive use of the Internet, i.e., Internet addiction.Conclusions: The umbrella term "Internet addiction" is inadequate because it overlooks important differences between various addictive online activities.However, it may be unrealistic to expect a demise of the term before determining more clearly the acceptable level of internal heterogeneity of the psychopathological constructs.
Authors: Vladan Starčević, Joël Billieux
Institution: University of Luxembourg
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2613567968